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Not so long ago, Dutch cuisine consisted mostly of fried food—french fries, bitterballen, and frikandel (deep-fried sausages)—along with thick pea soup and hearty meat and potato dishes. These days, however, Amsterdam restaurants serve much higher-quality and more varied food than ever before.
Many forward-thinking Amsterdam restaurants have embraced a "New Dutch cuisine," using organic and locally sourced meat, fish, and seafood, and expertly cooked vegetables served with interesting sauces and side dishes. Some chefs are taking it a step further and growing produce and herbs on land or rooftops attached to their restaurants—garden to table cooking, if you will. Multicourse tasting menus or small plates that you can mix and match are popular at upscale eateries, making use of what's freshest at the moment, perhaps farm-fresh asparagus or North Sea mussels. The classic standbys are still widely available, too—it's hard to resist those delicious bitterballen—but they're often prepared in updated, modern interpretations.
Amsterdam has a wealth of international cuisines. The city has long been known for its Moroccan, Turkish, and Indonesian food, and there are excellent Vietnamese eateries, where you can finally get a decent bánh mì, as well as pretty much every type of cuisine you might be craving. Another thing that's big on the Amsterdam food scene these days is brunch. Traditionally, the Dutch opt for relatively simple breakfasts of buttered toast with chocolate sprinkles (called hagelslag), but places for more American-style brunch—eggs Benedict or oatmeal with fresh fruit—have popped up throughout the city, attracting the city's trend-followers. Although steak restaurants have existed for years (and continue to open on a regular basis), hamburgers are also trendy, with tiny spots elbowing their way in to become the most popular in town.
Pockets of interesting dining are emerging away from the city center, too, but Amsterdam is a small city, so don't be daunted by distance. Everything's still easy to reach by cab, tram, or bus—or make like a local and burn off some calories by renting a bike.
Despite all these changes, one thing's stayed relatively the same: the pace of service. Expect a wait to get menus, to order, and then to receive your food. You just have to go with it: it's the Dutch way!
By day, this sleek Swedish-owned establishment serves cinnamon or cardamom buns and seriously good specialty coffee from La Cabra in Copenhagen. By night, take your pick of the premium (mostly natural, mostly French) wines displayed in a ceiling-high wine chamber before indulging in chef Ciaran Naughter's contemporary à la carte creations.
Henk Jongejans' organic rustic-industrial “Baking House” boasts a 15,432-pound wood-fired stone oven, which pumps out beautifully burnished sourdough bread with great flavor and an amazing texture. Stop by the shop to pick up a cup of locally roasted coffee with a cinnamon bun to munch on, or linger longer over sandwiches, pizzettes, smoothies, or salads at the bakery-café.
A quirkily named Australian-owned all-day brunch and dinner café can be a surprisingly fun place to stop by for locally roasted specialty coffees, decadent burgers, Korean tacos, natural wines, scrumptious desserts, and more.
Secreted away in a courtyard garden behind the H'ART Museum is a spectacular spot for all-day brunches that goes way beyond eggs Benedict (though they have those, too, of course.) There's plenty to choose from, with classic brunch options as well as modern, healthy options with fresh ingredients harvested from their own kitchen garden. And, best of all, 100% of the profits go to a good cause.
This snug breakfast, lunch, and high-tea favorite is strewn with flea-market finds (such as a gorgeous Portuguese chandelier and charmingly mismatched tableware), but there are only 10 tables, so be sure to make a reservation (even for breakfast). It's worth planning in advance for comforting French toast or pancakes, lovely lunchtime soups, salads, and toast spreads with veggies picked fresh from the owners' kitchen garden, or for homemade cakes, tarts, and quiches.
Fix your morning woes with some of the city’s richest croissants, butteriest brioche, and most perfect pain au chocolat at this artisan French bakery on Nieuwendijk. Or indulge in a high tea you won't easily forget.
One of Amsterdam's brunch pioneers, this intimate Australian-run eatery has a laid-back vibe and friendly servers. Although you'll inevitably have to wait for a table on weekends (it's walk-in only), the eclectic menu, which includes sweet and savory options, is worth it. Pass the time with one of the tasty brunch cocktails or house-made soda, iced tea, or drinking vinegar. In early 2019, a second outpost, offering all-day dining and small plates by night, opened in West (Bilderdijkstraat 140).
Befitting its location in the former shipyards of the newly hip NDSM area, this quirky restaurant is housed in a series of cavernous shipping containers—it attracts a young, lively crowd that appreciates the organic meat and vegetables and sustainably caught fish and seafood. In summer, the huge terrace and sandy man-made beach along the river turn into a party with DJs.
A perfect pairing like croissants and coffee is hard to top, but this plant-based patisserie has found a way to consistently impress with freshly baked pastries and a pleasing range of tea and coffee. Perched on a corner overlooking Lindengracht, fans line up early and wait patiently outside for their chance to choose from flaky, buttery, and surprisingly vegan delicacies. Popular items include twice-baked almond croissants, fruity rustic galettes, rosemary and sea salt twists, or their signature cruffins filled with pistachio paste. Innovative offerings change seasonally and often feature collaborations with other local brands.
Hidden under a cylindrical parking lot, this Surinamese hangout has an expansive canal view with a wraparound terrace and outdoor bar. Their picnic tables fill up quickly, especially on sunny days, while the cozy living room interior offers shelter from the infamous Dutch rain. Serving meals from breakfast to borreltijd, the menu has a tropical twist with plenty of vegetarian options and a wide range of drinks to wash it all down. After sunset, this waterfront bar turns into a club with DJs pumping beats on Friday and Saturday night (11 pm to 3 am). This tropical oasis champions diversity and is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. During Amsterdam Pride week, visitors can see the world's largest Progress Flag on display.
This popular café offers a rotating menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but the crowds show up for their famous appeltaart. Locals, students, and tourists in the know gather here for slices of the thick, cakelike Dutch specialty that's studded with fresh apples and cinnamon. Do it the Dutch way and order a slice with homemade whipped cream accompanied by fresh mint tea or coffee. The best place to eat is on Winkel's large patio—but Monday and Saturday can get crazy before 5 pm, when crowds spill over from the adjacent Noordermarkt.
One of five Anne&Max outposts in Amsterdam, this self-described "urban living room" is a great place to rest your tired feet after a long walk in nearby Vondelpark. There's decent coffee, cake, and plenty of healthy organic and vegetarian options for breakfast and lunch.
For a taste of the neighborhood's regentrified café culture, check out this new corner bar-bistro that fills up most nights with parched Pijpers. Daytime means breakfast bowls, hamburgers, soups, and a daily lunch special, including a sandwich, salad, and fries for €16.95. Come for a meal, or just stop by for a coffee and apple pie or beer and bitterballen (a popular local snack, which is essentially a bite-size croquette).
This unpretentious bakery and tearoom evokes an English country kitchen—one that lovingly prepares and serves breakfasts, high tea, hearty sandwiches, soups, and divine slices of quiche. The closely clustered wooden tables don't give much privacy, but the lively atmosphere is welcoming and warm. There are two other locations: one complete with a garden patio inside Westerpark and the original location in Oud-Zuid (all serving breakfast and lunch only).
In the shadow of the golden lyre that tops the Concertgebouw (Concert Building), this culinary institution has been serving musicians and concertgoers for over a century. The classical, dimly lighted Old Dutch interior has dark-wood paneling and giant bouquets of fresh flowers. The menu leans toward tradition, with classic escargot and bisque, and asparagus flamande, when in season. Regulars appreciate the friendly and efficient service.
Crafting wild-fermented sourdough bagels began as the founder's at-home hobby before it grew to a brick-and-mortar microbakery offering NYC-style bagels and loaves for true carb-lovers. Known to sell out quickly, their daily rotation of flavors ranges from classic everything seasoning to spicy jalapeño and cheddar. Delicious on their own or topped with cream cheese, many fans opt for the sandwich version, such as a BLT, smoked salmon with capers, pastrami, and other seasonal specials.
Although thousands of buildings in Amsterdam are designated historic monuments, few have interiors as stunning as the facade. This classic grand café is an Art Deco extravaganza with stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and stylish leaded-glass lamps with a warm glow. While the brasserie-style food can't match the exalted surroundings, it earns good marks for a scenic high tea or afternoon bite.
Join the ladies who lunch at this chic little café on Amsterdam's poshest shopping street, PC Hooftstraat, where white marble tables act as a canvas for picture-perfect plates of avocado toast and the bored blondes who pretend to nibble at them.
One of the city's best-known grand cafés, Luxembourg has a stately interior and a view of a bustling square, both of which are excellent for people-watching. Lunch, when the restaurant fills with locals and tourists, is the best time to come. The classic café menu includes soups, salads, "Luxemburgers" and excellent croquettes (oblong-shape meatballs), here with a cheese, shrimp, lobster, or veal filling. Those with less interest in urban sociology can entertain themselves at the communal table, which is democratically packed with an assortment of Dutch and international newspapers and magazines.
You’ll be entranced by the smell of freshly baked sourdough wafting from sister bakery Bakkerji Wolf next door even before you see this charming and airy breakfast and lunch café. Dishes make good use of the baked goods on offer, from delicious croissants to rich croque monsieurs, combined with international crowd-pleasers such as shakshuka (poached eggs in a bell pepper-and-tomato sauce and Greek salad.
The stunning decor in this expansive space on Artisplein at the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo is reason enough to visit, but the Mediterranean-influenced food is good, too. Exposed brick walls, birdcage-like chandeliers, and windows overlooking a volière (aviary) are a lovely setting to enjoy dishes such as Basque fish soup, marinated lamb served with rice and mint yogurt, or fava bean-and-ricotta ravioli. A selection of tartines (open-faced sandwiches) is available at lunch. The reasonably priced wine list, which helpfully categorizes wines as light, medium, or full, complements the food perfectly.
If you need a rejuvenating break from art viewing, head to this café across from the Rijksmuseum for coffee and cake, or for lunch on one of the terraces, if the weather is accommodating. An adjacent playground makes this café a good choice for families. Menu highlights include homemade apple pie, traditional pea soup, sandwiches, and Dutch beef croquettes (oblong-shape meatballs) with hand-cut fries. Or try the Dutch poffertjes: small buckwheat pancakes served with powdered sugar and butter. And make sure to check out the bizarre bathrooms in the basement.
Since its 2019 renovation, this Dutch brasserie has become a beacon on an otherwise uninspiring road; it's one of the few non–fast-food restaurants around packed Dam Square. The Dutch-international fare includes dishes like Zeeland mussels with fries and Dutch beef stew. It gets busy with passing tourists, but this restaurant is worth a stop if you're shopping at the nearby de Bijenkorf department store and need a pick-me-up.
It doesn't get more deeply Dutch than at this white-tiled shrine to Dutch sandwich culture, where the broodje kroket (a crispy veal croquette on a fluffy white bread roll, served with mustard and pickles) reigns supreme. Amsterdam locals also flock here for Van Dobben's other famous fillings, from meatballs to salt beef, liver, and tartare.
Come rain or shine, this kiosk serves coffee, tea, smoothies, baked goods, and gourmet health food inspired by the Greek islands. Whether you're craving sweet or savory, there are perfect on-the-go options like their signature orange, olive oil, rosemary cake, banana bread, or spanakopita (flaky pastry with spinach). Try the traditional Greek-style coffee if you’re in need of a caffeine kick. A few blocks away on Bilderdijkpark, their restaurant, Ikaria Park, offers flavorful, modern Greek food for dinner and delightful cocktails with a twist.
The decor of this stylish Pulitzer Hotel restaurant is an updated take on old-world elegance, featuring green velvet banquettes, white marble tables, beamed ceilings, and Dutch Masters–style portraits. It echoes the contemporary classics on offer, like rack of lamb, steak frites, and fish of the day; while not overly imaginative, the food is prepared with a sure hand and a light touch. Ask for a table with windows overlooking the pretty Keizersgracht canal or the Reestraat shopping street for prime people-watching while you dine.
It's hard to go wrong when going out for Dutch pancakes in Amsterdam, but the ones at this 50-year-old stalwart are among the best in town. The 17th-century warehouse has a petite canalside patio near the Anne Frank House, and the mammoth menu has more than 75 choices of sweet and savory toppings, from traditional (with syrup and powdered sugar) to over-the-top globally inspired creations, including an Indonesian pancake with chicken satay and crispy prawn crackers. You can also order omelets, or a convincing take on the folk dish of erwtensoep (a superthick, smoked sausage–imbued pea soup; October–April only). Be prepared to wait: it's popular, and reservations are taken only for groups of six or more. Bring the kids. Pancakes are seen as children's food in the Netherlands anyway, so the vibe is always very family-friendly.
The lofty wood-beam interior of the 15th-century Waag (weigh house), converted into a café and restaurant, is lighted by hundreds of candles that nicely help maintain the building's medieval majesty. Breakfast is served starting at 9 am, and lunch items include salads, flatbreads, and sandwiches. The all-day dining menu will likely include appetizers such as zucchini cannelloni and steak tartare, while you can't go wrong with entrées like côte de boeuf with béarnaise sauce, fondant potatoes, and fava beans. A spacious terrace is open when the weather permits.
There's plenty of outdoor seating at this spacious restaurant located within Westerpark, and the indoor portion is separated by retractable glass walls, making this the perfect destination to enjoy the weather and a good meal on a lazy afternoon or evening. The lunch and dinner menu is mostly café-style classics, including soups, sandwiches, salads, burgers (veggie, too), steak, and fish. On weekends, they often fire up the grill and host live music and outdoor parties during the spring and summer months.
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